Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Monday 8 May 2017

South Koreans want new leader to create jobs minus corruption

By YOUKYUNG LEE commitment.
AP Business Writer Public demand for change
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — in South Korea’s econom-
Creating jobs, ending cor- ic system remains high as
ruption and boosting stub- growth and wealth con-
bornly low birthrates should tinue to be concentrated
be high on a to-do list for in the hands of top few
South Korea’s next presi- family-run business giants
dent after a campaign known as chaebol. Anger
mostly dominated by se- over allegations of collu-
curity and foreign policy sion between big business-
issues.There’s concern that es and the government
the economy will likely take helped trigger massive
a backseat to North Korea monthslong protests that
when South Koreans pick led to the ouster of Presi-
their next leader on Tues- dent Park Geun-hye in
day. Voters have been March and the arrest of the
rattled by a row over who de-facto leader at Sam-
should foot the bill for a sung, South Korea’s larg-
U.S. anti-missile system de- est business group.Leading
ployed in the country to de- presidential contenders
fend against North Korean have tried to tap into the
aggression, after President discontent over economic Elementary school children look at posters of candidates for the May 9 presidential election in
Donald Trump suggested injustice, high youth unem- Seoul, South Korea. Creating jobs, ending corruption and boosting low birthrates should be high
that South Korea should ployment and increased on a to-do list for South Korea’s next president after a campaign mostly dominated by security
and foreign policy issues. There is concern that the economy will likely take a backseat to North
pay more for U.S. security inequality between those Korea when South Koreans pick their next leader on Tuesday.
(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
with full-time jobs at chae- also puts jobs high on his that have relied on chae-
bol and those who are policy agenda but says the bol for economic growth,
underemployed or look- government should not be showering them with spe-
ing for work.But the lack heavy-handed in interven- cial treatment that resulted
of concrete reform plans ing in the private sector in cozy ties that in many
means that none of their and instead focus on mak- cases led to corruption.
economic agenda gained ing the markets fair and Instead, his team supports
much attention during the friendlier for innovation. the idea of easing regula-
campaign.“Candidates “The origin of every crisis in tions to encourage com-
fell short of expectations South Korea is jobs,” Moon panies to take risks while
from the public and could said during an economic the government focuses on
not thoroughly cover the debate. “It is because eco- supporting small firms.“So
reform agenda to change nomic growth has contin- far, South Korea’s growth
the economic system,” said ued without creating jobs has been led by the gov-
Park Sang-in, a professor at and markets have failed ernment while giving spe-
Seoul National University’s to create jobs for a long cial treatments to chae-
Graduate School of Pub- time.”Moon’s campaign bol. That should change
lic Administration. “Their pledges include creating now,” Ahn said. “When the
talks on jobs and innova- 810,000 jobs in the public private sector, especially
tion were so superficial that sector, including bureau- when small- and medium-
they could not win public crats, firefighters and so- sized companies and ven-
support.” cial workers, at a cost of ture firms grow, more qual-
On jobs, the two main con- 4.2 trillion won ($3.7 billion) ity jobs will be created.”The
tenders hold different views per year. Moon said he will two leading candidates
on what the government add an extra budget of 10 also differ in what would be
should do.Moon Jae-in, the trillion won ($8.8 billion) im- the best way to help small
front-runner from the main mediately once he takes companies and encour-
opposition Democratic office and a lion’s share of age the country’s young
Party, believes that a big- that will be allocated for talents who are drawn to
ger government would be job creation. high wages and job secu-
better for creating jobs and Ahn’s campaign has ar- rity at Samsung, Hyundai
says South Korea needs gued that Moon’s ap- and other big businesses,
more public workers. His proach is no different from to take more risks and work
main rival Ahn Cheol-soo the previous governments at small firms.q